United States, Scott #2211, used (o), 1986, Commemorative honoring Duke Ellington (Edward Kennedy Ellington)(1899-1974); ninth stamp in the Performing Art Series, American jazz composer and band leader, raised in a prominent black family in Washington, D.C., and as his friends noted: ‘ … his casual offhand manner, and dapper dress gave him the bearing of a young nobleman’ and nicknamed him ‘Duke’ - the name stuck, he began playing the piano at seven and seriously at age 13, soon he was playing in cafés and clubs around the city; he formed his first band in 1917; moved to New York City and became part of the Harlem Renaissance, in 1927, the band got a gig at the Cotton Club and gained national recognition, he composed memorable pieces, such as ‘Black, Brown, and Beige’, his band appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival 1956, and his album ‘Ellington at Newport’ became the best selling album of his career; 22 cents, photogravure printed by the American Bank Note Company, perforated: 11, multicolored, Scott 2019 Catalog Value: 25¢, slightly off-centered, light, crisp, quarter circular, red-inked, double-rimmed, socked-on-the-nose corner cancellation at the top right and largely clear of the main image, sound back, good perforations; centering and image-free cancellation warrants a selling price premium. This is not a 'bait-and-switch;' the stamp you see will be the one you receive.
Please review my terms of sale. If you are not ordering from the United States, there is a $US1.50 additional postage expense that needs to be added to the price of the stamp. If you are ordering from the United States, there is only a $US0.66 added postage expense. Also, if you make additional purchases from my offerings, they can all go in one mailing at no extra shipping expense for the added purchases. I will send the purchase by US first class mail, since the relatively low value of the stamp does not warrant signature or tracking mail. Hence the buyer assumes risk of loss or non-delivery. I will keep a scan of my mailing to verify that the correct mailing address was used. If not satisfied, return the stamp to me at your own expense, and I will refund the cost, but not my postage to you. If the stamp is not as described, I will refund the cost and reimburse you for postage both ways.
By way of reference, I am an American Philatelic Society member (195176) and an American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) member. Thank you for looking, and I hope this is the perfect stamp to fill that gap in your collection.